By Adam Prudhomme
Staff Reporter
A trio of local bands will hit the Strathcona Paper Centre stage on Aug. 27 for GarrettFest, a fundraising concert that will be held in memory of Garrett Mills.
The Saturday Night Glad Rags, Knuckel Hed and Trilogy have all volunteered their time while sound equipment has been donated by MusicFly.ca and Marie’s Place Music Emporium to ensure proceeds from ticket sales can go towards establishing an NDSS scholarship in Mills’ honour. The scholarship will be presented annually by Mills’ parents Dave (Buzz Collins) and Gwen to a deserving student.
Tickets are $20 and available at Napanee’s Gray’s IDA Drug Store, Marie’s Place Music Emporium and AquaSure Water System. They can also be arranged to be purchased online by e-mailing GarrettFest@gmail.com.
Admission also includes draws for door prizes, free snacks and non-alcoholic refreshments. A cash bar will also be on site. Raffle tickets will also be sold for gift certificates from local businesses including stores, restaurants, salons and hotels. A handful of Star Wars characters will also be on hand at the concert for photo opportunities.
Among the top prizes being raffled off is an autographed electric guitar from Sum41, which was signed during their recent performance at Belleville’s Empire Rockfest. Raffle tickets are $5 each or three for $10 and are on sale now at Marie’s Place, which donated the prize. The winner doesn’t need to be present at the concert to claim their prize.
Event organizers are still accepting raffle prizes and any business that does donate a prize will get three complimentary raffle tickets to win an advertising package from 88.7 MyFM. Businesses can also purchase tickets for the advertising package, with proceeds going to Garrett-Fest. Anyone looking to donate raffle prizes can email the event organizers.
The event, which runs from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. will be all ages. It’s being held in memory of 15-year-old Mills, who passed away on May 12 while playing in a Napanee park.